Return of the Legendary Runesmith - Chapter 405

Chapter 405: Chapter 404- Respond
[Next Morning]

“Huh? She came over?” Annabelle’s eyes widened in surprise as she processed what Adrian had just said.

Adrian chuckled softly, brushing a few strands of hair from his face. “Yes. And the funny thing is, we made *plenty* of noise while tuning the golem, yet you didn’t wake up at all.” He shook his head in mild disbelief. “You’d think someone would at least stir when two people are practically yelling across the courtyard.”

Well—”yelling” might be an exaggeration. They weren’t arguing, but Evilyn had made Adrian stand several feet away from the golem during the adjustments, warning that the core’s fuel was dangerously unstable.

So they had no choice but to speak loudly to communicate across the distance.

Yet somehow, despite the echoing clangs of tools and bursts of energy, Annabelle had slept through it all without the faintest clue that Evilyn had come by or that the two had worked through the night—right up until the pale dawn reminded the young inventor that she had to return home.

Annabelle rubbed her eyes and yawned lazily. “Hmm… I’ve actually trained myself to wake up the instant I sense malicious intent,” she said matter-of-factly. “But anything *other* than that? You’d have to shake me awake before my biological clock decides it’s time.”

Ariana smirked, arms folded. “I barely believe you’d wake up even if Adrian were being attacked.”

Annabelle’s sleepy expression vanished. She shot Ariana a sharp glare. “Hey! Any ill intent aimed at Darling would wake me up even from my grave.”

Adrian’s smile faded at her words. “Hey, don’t say things like that,” he said softly.

Annabelle blinked, realizing what she’d just said, then smiled sheepishly. “Sorry.”

A brief silence followed before Ariana turned toward the window of the moving carriage. The dull golden light of morning washed over the barren horizon, broken only by jagged rocks and distant dunes. “How far is this place, anyway?” she muttered. “We’ve been moving for over half an hour and I don’t even see a landmark.”

If not for Annabelle’s notorious morning laziness, they would’ve simply sprinted instead of relying on the carriage Jean had prepared for them. Of course, Jean herself had already left early—likely reaching the site long before they even departed.

“It’s quite far,” Annabelle replied, resting her chin on her palm. “That’s exactly why the Tower hasn’t caught wind of it yet. Even Umbral’s scouts almost got lost finding this place. No one comes this deep into the Barren Lands willingly.”

Adrian nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “The Barren Lands have nothing left to offer. Not since the war.”

He looked out the window as well, eyes tracing the lifeless expanse. “The land itself was drained of vitality during the Great Conflict. That’s why the Tower never established any surveillance here. And if they had…” —he paused, a faint smirk tugging his lips— “we wouldn’t be visiting this site so casually.”

Ariana hummed quietly, her gaze still fixed on the barren landscape rushing past the window. After a short pause, she said, “You know, we’re being incredibly irresponsible, Adrian… The second stage of the final exams starts in three days, and here we are—wandering around in the wilderness.”

Her tone, though laced with mock concern, carried more amusement than actual reproach.

Adrian exhaled and massaged his temples. “Yes, right… the second stage. The Rite of Steel.”

Annabelle’s head instantly perked up. “The Rite of Steel? That sounds interesting, Darling.”

Unable to resist her curious expression, Adrian gently reached out and patted her head. The girl immediately leaned closer with a pleased hum, her raven hair brushing against his arm.

“The students,” Adrian began with a small smile, “are required to use their own armaments to overcome a series of obstacles crafted by the instructors. There are two segments—the first one is pre-designed by the academy, meant to test their basic synergy and endurance. The second,” he paused, “is spontaneous. Each instructor creates a challenge on the spot, tailored to the student’s strength and growth.”

Annabelle’s eyes gleamed, her lips curving into a small, mischievous smile as she asked, “So, what does that have to do with you, hm? Shouldn’t your part have ended after the Aegis Trials?”

Then she shot a suspicious glare at Ariana. “Or… is your boss making you overwork again?”

Ariana let out a soft, helpless laugh. “The exam is very complex, dear. Every teacher has to get involved. There are mana calibrations, safety measures, and rune balancing to ensure no one gets killed during the ‘testing’ phase.”

Annabelle’s glare softened into a playful pout. “Hmm… sounds like an excuse to keep him away from me.”

Ariana gave a small, knowing smile. “Work is work. And it’s not like I force your darling to do anything. Adrian loves his job.”

Annabelle didn’t argue—because she knew it was true.

Still, her oceanic eyes drifted toward Adrian, and after a brief silence, she asked softly, “Darling… when are you retiring from all this? You promised to make me a home and a mom one day.”

The carriage went silent.

Adrian froze mid-breath, and even Ariana’s composure faltered for a heartbeat.

“Annabelle!” Ariana hissed, her tone scolding but not harsh. “Idiot, don’t say such things so openly.”

Annabelle pouted, unbothered. “But it’s just us. And it’s not like I’m asking for something unnatural.” She turned her gaze back to Adrian, eyes shimmering with sincerity. “Darling did promise to make me his bride.”

Her hands found the hem of his shirt, clutching it lightly as if afraid he might drift away. “Right, Darling?”

Adrian hesitated, his gaze lowering for a moment. “…About that—”

The shift in his tone was all it took. Annabelle’s shoulders slumped, and her expression wilted like a flower in the wind. “Darling… are you going to abandon me?” Her voice trembled faintly, and the hurt in her eyes made even Ariana look away.

Adrian glanced toward Ariana, silently asking for help, but her expression was helpless—almost sympathetic.

She knew this wasn’t something she could intervene in. The bond between Adrian and Annabelle wasn’t ordinary—it was something that transcended both time and reason. Ever since they met, that thread had been there, shimmering faintly, unbroken no matter how far they drifted apart.

And Annabelle… she had never hidden her feelings. Not once.

Adrian exhaled deeply. He hated himself for hesitating, for making that expression she didn’t deserve. Slowly, he reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder, his voice low but steady.

“Once I’m done with Raven’s project—the day after tomorrow—let’s go on a date,” he said softly. “We’ll talk about everything properly then. Alright?”

Annabelle’s voice softened, almost trembling as she lowered her gaze. “Darling… I have no one beside you.”

Before either of them could respond, she pushed open the carriage door and stepped outside, the sound of her boots crunching on dry soil breaking the silence. Only then did Adrian and Ariana realize—they had arrived at their destination.

Adrian stayed still for a moment, watching her small figure disappear ahead. His shoulders felt heavier than before. He had been avoiding this—pretending her feelings would fade on their own, pretending time would somehow untangle what fate had woven between them.

But Annabelle’s words struck deeper than he cared to admit.

He turned to Ariana. “Aria—”

“I’ll accept whatever decision you make,” she said before he could finish. Her tone was calm, but her eyes carried a quiet strength. She met his gaze, unflinching. “I’ve always seen her as part of our family, Adrian. And truth be told… it’s about time you respond to her love and devotion.”

Adrian’s expression softened. He looked at her for a long moment before giving a slow, understanding nod.

Not long after, Adrian and Ariana stepped out of the carriage, the dry wind brushing against their faces. The morning sun hung pale over the horizon, its light barely piercing through the dust drifting in the air.

Around them, several members of the Umbral organization were already at work—setting up camp, marking perimeters, and maintaining the barriers that enclosed the site. Steel barricades had been driven into the ground in a wide arc, connected by thick, rune-etched ropes that faintly pulsed with energy.

Adrian’s eyes scanned the formation carefully. The ropes didn’t just serve as boundaries—they traced a specific path, one that curved and wound in deliberate intervals. He followed the direction of the markings until the horizon swallowed the line entirely. Even without seeing the full layout, he could tell what it was.

“This isn’t random,” he murmured. “It’s the movement trail of the ancient creature that Umbral detected.”

Ariana folded her arms, her expression tightening as she watched the faint tremor run through the sand near one of the outer barricades. “Then it’s really here… somewhere beneath us.”

Just the thought of it suddenly appearing above the surface kept her at the edge.

Adrian nodded slowly, “Let’s see what exactly is it circling for days now.”

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please make sure to leave a comment.